Watch: Was This Student's Slave Costume for 'Decades Day' Offensive?

Watch: Was This Student's Slave Costume for 'Decades Day' Offensive?

Here's why school administrators told him to take it off.

Published October 5th

A Texas student was told to change out of his clothes after coming to school dressed as a slave during the themed costume event “Decades Day.”

During this year’s spirit week at Ridge Point High School, the students participated in a day where they could dress up in iconic fashion from different decades. Although most students tend to opt for fashion from more expressive times before the year 2000, one student went all the way back to 1600s.

Senior Brian Ibe came to school wearing a torn shirt, splattered with fake blood, chains around his legs, neck and arms, and carried a bag of cotton.

However, Ibe did not wear the costume for long, as school administrators quickly stepped in and told him to change.

“They told me to take it off,” Ibe said to KPRC. “They said I should take it off before it starts problems and makes people uncomfortable.”

Ibe felt that although the costume may make some uncomfortable, slavery was a significant part of history and should not need to be covered up. However, instead of fighting the school and risking an in-school suspension, Ibe went home and changed his clothes.

Without getting into any specifics, RPHS administration spoke as to the policies they enforce during spirit week.

"If a student is dressed inappropriately, and/or if their dress is considered a distraction to the learning environment, they will and have been asked to change clothes. In the last couple of days, less than a dozen students have been asked to change or modify their clothing,” read a statement issued by Fort Bend ISD spokesperson Amanda Bubela. "Ridge Point High School is encouraging students to express their school spirit this week, while adhering to the dress code. It is important that the campus maintain a distraction-free learning environment.”